Grand Cayman Turtle Center- Should you go??? Yes!! Our little family went to Grand Cayman with extended family, so there were many discussions of the amazing things we should do while we there. So, before our trip, I sat the kids down and we watched youtube videos of the Cayman Turtle Center, Star Fish Bay, Swimming with the Sting Rays, Bioluminescent Bay, etc and asked the kids to pick their top two things on their list. They both quickly Star Fish Bay and the Cayman Turtle Center!

Large Turtles at the Cayman Turtle Center

When you first walk in the Cayman Turtle Center there are these extremely large turtles. The oldest one is 82 years old! You are able to purchase small food pellets and feed these turtles, however you are not allowed to touch these giant turtles. I am not sure on the cost of the food, as we had a lovely give our children their extra food when they were leaving. Cheers to them!!

Cayman Turtle Center Holding Turtles

Next, you move into the wading pools area of the Cayman Turtle Center. This was the most loved part of our whole experience. Since, Baby Girl is under the age of 5, it required an adult to join her in the wading pool. They really had to twist my arm to get in there. LOL! I think I was just excited as the kids, I love turtles. I had several pet turtles as a child.

Toddlers at the Cayman Turtle Center

Not only do you need an adult with a child under 5 in the wading pool, you also have to sign a waiver, which my husband did, as we were getting into the wading pool. Which he did not read…. I guess, I am a little glad, I did not know what the waiver said until our last visit of the day in the wading pool.

Holding Turtles at the Grand Cayman Turtle Center

In the wading pool Baby Girl was so happy, grabbing turtles, picking them up, getting splashed by the turtles. She was having the best time. In that waiver, it lets you know that turtles are known to carry salmonella and E. coli. Children under 5 are more of risk of getting dangerously sick. Do you know how paranoid I would been if I read that beforehand??? Luckily, they have hand washing and feet washing stations. At the feet washing station, I rubbed soap over their entire bodies over their entire bodies, just to be on the safe side.

Children holding turtles at the Cayman Turtle Center

The day before visited Star Fish Bay (a future post coming soon) and Baby Girl refused to touch the Star Fish, so we were not sure how she would handle the turtles. Neither of kids were afraid of the turtles at all. Sometimes the turtles would freak out a little bit and were a little more difficult to control. However, the Cayman Turtle Center taught us a trick.

Apparently, if you rub a turtle’s chin it will calm him down. Who knew? Did it work? Every time!! This little tip helped make the wading pools (there are two) a little more manageable with my little ones.

Cayman Turtle Center Wading Pool

Little Dude became a total pro with the turtles. He wanted to be a veterinarian for a very long time after his first died. Now he wants to be a scientist, as he thinks will be able help more animals with science. He is my smart and sweet little boy!! It amazes me how much he thinks of the world outside of himself at such young age.

Turtles at the Grand Cayman Turtle CenterHolding Turtles at the Cayman Turtle Center

It was at the recommendation of several families we met on our trip to only pay for the smaller package, which we did. We at the end of our trip and had already spent a lot of money. However, I really wished we would have to opted for the larger package, especially for Little Dude. A few of the things we were not able to do were, the shark feeding, snorkeling with the turtles and the small water park. Little Dude was pretty upset, so we promised him next time we would do it! As there will be definitely another trip to Grand Cayman. My Disney World obsessed children both insisted they loved this vacation more than Disney. Wow!!

They both absolutely loved the area with the eggs hatch. The baby turtles were adorable and was a very educational experience. They learned how the mothers bury holes for the turtle eggs, then it can take over a week for the turtles to climb out of the hole, then try to make it to the ocean. In the educational video, it does mention that the Cayman Turtle Center does raise some turtles to sell the meat. They believe this helps the turtles avoid poaching in the wild. I am a little glad my kids missed that part of the video. Little Dude would have been devastated.

Cayman Turtle Center – Turtle Waving

Well this little turtle is waving bye for now. Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the Cayman Turtle Center, please let me know in the comments below!!!